Day at the Beach

We lived on beaches most of our lives (once literally above the beach, in a converted water tower!).

What my mum would do for the babies (when we lived on a beach sans trees... or she needed to be closer to the water to keep an eye on us older ones) was to dig out the sand to form a pit where it was cooler (aka until she hit the water table). Then she stuck PVC poles in at the corners and bungie corded a blanket to the poles. Nowadays they actually have folding pavillions and beach tents... but she was a MacGyver kind of mum. Even if the instant thing had been available, I'm not sure she'd have used it. Give my mum duct tape and you're in danger. She made a duct tape harness for my brother one year because he was a "runner", and a dog leash she looped through her belt and clipped him to it.

a lightweight bouncy chair with a canopy.

We bought the Nantucket Beach Hut tent at Christmas Tree Shop for $15. It is great. It easiest to assemble with 2 people, especially if it's a windy day, but it can be done by 1 person - practice at home a few times. It has 2 zippered flaps for "windows" so you always get a breeze, and you can position the tent so that the sun doesn't come thru the window. It's pretty roomy so we've never felt hot. It fits 2 chairs in the center section, and we stick the cooler and our books at the edges. It has 4 spikes you can use to help anchor it although if it's extremely windy (like at the ocean) you will want to use your other belongings to weight it down inside. You might find this easier than the umbrella in terms of giving your daughter more space to crawl around. Maybe she would sleep on a clean beach towel so you wouldn't have to take the stroller. The only problem we've had with the tent is that it seems it is impossible to roll it up as tightly as the first time, so it doesn't really fit in the carrying bag they provide. We just stick it in a canvas beach bag and don't worry about it. We also have a beach cart - it's called a Nantucket Beach Buggy - and we throw everything in there - cooler, towels, beach tent etc. and hang the chairs on the buggy's rack. That might be more multi-purpose for you than the stroller - you can carry your child or put her in a Snugly-type carrier, and pull the cart with everything else.

I know it's exhausting carrying all the baby stuff - good for you for attempting these outings!

Do you need to take her to the beach?
All day at the beach is a LONG time for a baby.

A 'beach tent' is not completely enclosed... it is open... but covered. Try looking online at Amazon for examples. Input "beach tent" in the search.

A baby that age can't do much at the beach and they still need to be nursed on demand.... stay hydrated etc.
Or, situate yourselves UNDER a tree, for shade....

You can get these great beach carriages at Job Lot for $40-- they are like shopping carts with big wheels that you can load up with a cooler, chairs, umbrella, toys, etc. These are great if you decide not to take the stroller. Sun shelters are good because they are cooler/more open than a tent but give some shelter on the sides to wind. They can be a PITA to set up, though...

A Mother's Helper!!!
Then you can actually relax at the beach, :)

Just make sure there is shade, either from a tree or an umbrella. If you get a tent, I would look for one that has breathable netting all the way around.

We've used one of the LL Bean beach tents since my oldest, now 12, was a baby. It's like a half tent and provides a clean space to put the cooler and the baby. I could even lay sideways in it to nurse and still be able to watch my other 2 kids. Even though my kids aren't babies anymore we still bring it to provide shade and a marker for the kids to know where are stuff is. It's a great investment.